Extreme Heat Warning: A Shallow End Gals Trilogy, Book Two

by Graybosch, Vicki

  Tourey was waiting at the entrance and signaled for John to join him over in the park area. They found a secluded bench, and Tourey said, “Do you know what a Mambo is?”

  John looked surprised, “In the last couple of days I’ve heard the name a lot.”

  Tourey said, “I have a friend who went to see Mambo yesterday. Mambo gave her this amulet for me. By name. Mambo told my friend to tell me Lucy is alive.”

  John’s eyes opened wide, and he said, “Tell me this again, slower.”

  John and Tourey just sat looking at each other. They both knew what it meant. John stood to leave. “All we have right now is the words of a Mambo, but it fits with some things I have heard.” John shook his head. “I’ll try to dig around.”

  Tourey asked, “I know this isn’t my deal, but I gather the FBI seized guns last night at the dock, and somehow obtained a Martial Law status. Can you enlighten me on how that came about?” John laughed and told Tourey everything except about Ellen and the Gals.

  Tourey asked, “How the hell did you guys find out all of this, and then get the cooperation of every agency in the soup, so fast? This is a communication sting? What is secure?”

  John answered, “Nothing. No cell phones, no government lines, nothing. We think our problem is us. Some of us. That’s what I mean about Lucy. We may find out something soon anyway.”

  Tourey shook his head, “Gonna try to kill me again, aren’t ya?”

  John chuckled, “I told you Roger’s team would turn this into the Wild West if they had to.” John scratched his head and looked at Tourey, “I kind of promised the Director of the FBI, Roger could borrow you.”

  “You did what? You borrowed me from CIA. Now you are lending me out to the FBI?”

  John laughed, “Just for this Patterson crap.”

  Roger and Paul went over to the Star Ship after lunch and helped Jeanne compose a script to use with the parents of the children in the art contest. Jeanne offered to post the script language on the FBI site for other offices to use. Roger asked her to post a request that personal notifications be made today. Roger had a feeling the New Orleans contest was one of the last ones, and decisions were probably being made.

  Jeanne said, “Tourey gave us an address of a country house where he says Patterson is hiding. A club meeting was held there last night. He had the video and sound from that meeting streamed here, but we haven’t had a chance to watch it yet. He also gave us names of everyone who was there.”

  Simon volunteered, “I watched it. I got back from lunch before the rest of you. It will make you sick.”

  Paul said, “Let’s see what you’ve got.” When it was over, nobody spoke for a few minutes.

  Roger finally said, “Did you catch the reference to a Monday delivery from Los Angeles?”

  Simon answered, “I looked it up. They have a club branch there and had thirty contestants. Their contest was two weeks ago. They mentioned at the beginning of this meeting that their video had been sent to their other branches. I think their rule is you can’t pick one from your area.”

  Roger looked at his watch and shook his head, “Let’s divide ours up and get to these parents. Paul and I have to leave to meet the director. Thor is in charge. We should be back fairly soon. Simon, if you could keep following up on Global Corporation, it may prove to be our only proof material on Mathew Core.”

  Mathew Core was sure Tourey was something. He had spotted Tourey, followed him to Loyola and watched him talking to John Berry on the bench. Mathew pointed his listening monitor at them. He wasn’t getting feedback. They were too far away to read lips. He knew John was working with Roger’s team. Tourey had to be undercover for someone.

  Mathew decided to use the opportunity to search Tourey’s home. Find out what might be there. Somehow he had to find out where his guns were and what the plan was. In Tourey’s library he found several notes scratched out about Bernard Jacobs. Mathew didn’t care if they found Patterson, he had bigger worries.

  He hacked into Tourey’s computer and checked his web browser history. CIA. That made sense. He saw Tourey had spent a great deal of time on an art website and read about some children’s art contest. Mathew started to get a bad feeling. He followed each site Tourey had been in. Last year three murders, previous winners. The same names were on one of Tourey’s notes. Senator Rolland Kenny. One of Tourey’s notes said, “Bernard stashed by Rolland”.

  Mathew was starting to think Tourey was only interested in what Patterson was involved in. Maybe as soon as the FBI got Patterson they would leave. That would certainly solve a few problems.

  Mathew saw a download called, “Meeting of the sicko club,” had been downloaded late last night. He clicked on the download and watched it play. He saw Jamie describing her art piece. He couldn’t believe his eyes. When had this happened? He saw the men in the room laughing and talking about how she was going to be a winner for sure. At the end of the video Tourey had pasted a message. Property owned by Senator Rolland Kenny, with an address. Mathew’s blood was running cold. He wrote down the address.

  Mathew heard a car door. He quickly made his way to the back of the house and opened the back door when he heard the key in the front. He was gone. Mathew called Lisa when he got back into his SUV.

  She answered, “Hi handsome.”

  Mathew knew from her voice everything was still okay. His mind was racing on how to protect Jamie without alarming Lisa. God why was this happening now? He would send them on a vacation somewhere.

  He asked, “You and Jamie available for lunch?”

  Lisa answered, “We are just leaving the grocery store and have to drop off books at the Library. Is this a date?”

  Mathew answered, “Yeah, I’ll meet you at the house in about an hour.”

  Mathew headed toward the dock area. There was a chance Carl had figured things out. Maybe the rest of the weapons were on trucks and in safe keeping. Maybe the ship was back. Something had to make sense. Ninety tons of weapons couldn’t vanish into thin air.

  Tourey stood in his foyer, something had his hairs up. He walked into his library and saw his computer was on. He walked through the house knowing whoever had been there was gone. He had a pretty good hunch.

  Jeanne made sure her list of kids included Mathew Core’s daughter. She went to the work places of the parents on her list and discussed the FBI’s concern that their child had been exposed to a pedophile group that was under investigation. She gave the web address for the FBI and explained to them there were numerous safety booklets they could download and other helpful information. She assured each of them they were a priority. She gave them hotline numbers and a promise someone would keep them posted on the investigation.

  Jeanne sat in the SUV provided by the field office and collected her thoughts. The FBI didn’t know if Mathew’s wife Lisa was aware of his occupation or not. Jeanne also knew this visit could be dangerous if Core was at home or came home while she was there. It struck her that Mathew Core’s home was only two blocks from where Devon had lived. She shuddered at her memories of him. It was only yesterday she had shot him.

  Jeanne found the house and parked at the street. It was a pleasant looking two story with flowers and landscaping that showed pride of ownership. An SUV was parked in the driveway. From her notes of Pablo’s surveillance report, she knew the car in the drive was Lisa’s. She could hear the commotion a mile down the street from the National Guard vehicles, and she could see the flashing lights. Traffic had been terrible getting across Canal Street.

  As she walked to the front door, she noted that this house, like so many others, also had an alley running along the back of the property. Core’s driveway connected the street in front to the alley with a two car garage built off to the side. Jeanne admired the layout. Core must have purchased the lot next door at some point and tore down the house to build the garage.

  She knocked on the front door and a very perky, smiling Jamie answered. Jeanne said, “Hi. Is your mommy home?”


  Jamie answered, “Yes, I will have to shut and lock the door and go get her though. That’s the rule.”

  Jeanne smiled, “That is a very good rule. I’ll wait.” After a brief wait Jeanne heard the door unlock, and Lisa met her with a smile.

  “Can I help you?”

  Jeanne kept her voice low and showed Lisa her badge. “Hi Lisa, I am with the FBI, and I need to speak with you about a matter of great importance. May I come in?”

  Lisa’s eyes opened wide, and she asked, “Is Mathew okay?”

  Jeanne answered, “Yes, this has to do with Jamie.”

  Lisa stood back to let Jeanne in, “Jamie?” Lisa directed Jeanne to take a seat in the living room, and she asked Jamie to go to her room until she was called. Jamie didn’t look very happy, but she quickly minded. Jeanne could tell she was a well behaved child. The house looked comfortable but not pretentious, and Lisa looked like the typical soccer mom.

  Jeanne started, “Lisa, do you remember Jamie entering an art contest recently through the library?”

  “Of course, I helped her frame her picture and take it there.”

  Jeanne continued, “I can only give you limited information because this case is under investigation. We are investigating a pedophile group that is using these contests to actually select which children to abduct.”

  The look of horror on Lisa’s face was unmistakable. She was choking back tears, and her voice was barely audible, “If you know this, can’t you stop them?” Little spurts of sobs were catching in Lisa’s throat and breaking through. She put her hand to her mouth.

  Jeanne reached out and touched her other hand, “This is why I am here now, to ask you to be extra alert. We are working on the investigation. This is very new. We are trying to find a balance between protecting the children and ensuring we do not alert the bad guys. Do you understand?”

  Lisa was nodding and dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “Can I call my husband to come home and talk to you too?”

  Jeanne sat up straight. “I would rather you did not do that Lisa.”

  Lisa looked in Jeanne’s eyes, she was searching for what Jeanne wasn’t telling her. Lisa didn’t know if it was because she was scared, or because Jeanne eyes truly looked almost other-worldly. “You have remarkable eyes. You are scaring me. Please tell me why you don’t want me to call Mathew.”

  Jeanne tried to relax her focus on Lisa and said, “We have a felony arrest warrant on your husband. If he comes home now, I will have to arrest him. I don’t want that happening around Jamie.”

  Lisa drew back and was unable to hide her shock. “There must be some mistake. Mathew is a wonderful person. A wonderful father. What do you think he did?” She was standing now. She looked angry and afraid.

  Jeanne stood too. “He will be arrested for several murders.”

  Lisa started to sway and her eyelids were fluttering. Jeanne knew she was going to faint. She guided Lisa back to the couch and waited. Lisa stared at her, “That can’t be the Mathew I know.” Jeanne said nothing.

  Jeanne saw a copy of the newspaper on the coffee table and asked, “Did you read that?”

  Lisa looked at the paper and then back at Jeanne, “Mathew has something to do with that?” Jeanne hoped she hadn’t said too much. She knew Core was in so deep, Roger would understand her telling Lisa this much.

  Out of the corner of her eye Jeanne saw an SUV pull up behind her vehicle. Three men were inside, and they were looking at the house. Jeanne saw the back door open and the man exiting pull a gun against his leg for cover. Jeanne looked at Lisa, “You have to trust me. I don’t know who is coming here right now, but they are armed. Go to Jamie’s room. Do not leave until I get you.”

  Lisa looked out the window. She saw two men going toward the back of the house and one man walking up the walk toward the front. “What are you going to do?”

  Jeanne pushed her, “Go. Stay quiet, no matter what.”

  Lisa ran down the hall. Jeanne checked her weapon and moved her extra clip from her boot to her waistband. She ran to the kitchen and put every knife she could find in a row on the island counter top. She positioned herself in the center hall where she had a view of the front door through a foyer mirror and a view of the back door directly to her left side. The knob on the back door was turning. The knob on the front door was turning. She was within reach of the knives.

  The back door opened, and Jeanne shot. The front door opened. Jeanne shot. Two shots, two kills. She heard a noise to her left, and a second man was coming through the back door. He fired and missed. Jeanne fired and killed him. Another SUV was pulling up front. Jeanne went to the living room window and shot them both before they got to the house. Her car was totally blocked.

  Jeanne screamed to Lisa, “Lisa! You and Jamie come here now. Hurry!” They both ran out of the bedroom, and Jeanne said, “Lisa, we have to get out of here. We need to take your car. Where are the keys?” Lisa was shaking so badly she could hardly point. Jeanne saw them on the counter, “These?” Lisa nodded. Jeanne said, “Cover Jamie’s eyes and follow me.” Jeanne pulled the body of the man out of the back doorway and ushered Lisa and Jamie to their SUV. She pulled into the alley and saw a black SUV at the far end idling. The SUV started to head toward them. Jeanne blasted through the alley scattering gravel and fueling a growing dust cloud. She turned onto the main street. The SUV was closing in on them.

  Jeanne told Lisa and Jamie to put on their seat belts. They were going to see what the car could do. Jeanne was fairly familiar with the side streets and knew she had to avoid the congestion of town. She had to make a decision fast. She didn’t want them trapped in traffic. That could endanger even more people. She decided to make a run for Jeremiah’s and take them to Mambos.

  Jeanne temporarily lost the SUV in her maneuverings and headed for the bridge to Slidell. The SUV had a full tank of gas, and Jeanne was pushing eighty miles per hour. Where the hell were the cops? They should be pulling her over. Jeanne kept watching her rear view mirror. A high spot on the bridge coming up would let her see farther behind her. They would be exposed too. When she reached that point on the bridge, she could see the SUV weaving through traffic behind her. She knew they must have seen her too. She knew she had at least two advantages. Someone had souped up Lisa’s SUV; Jeanne could feel the unused power and Jeanne knew the area well. They had a chance.

  Traffic on the bridge was light, and Jeanne was sure she remembered a back way Jeremiah had shown her to where Patterson had taken her to the swamp. By land it was only a few blocks from Jeremiah. She really didn’t want to lead these guys to his house. Jeanne floored it and yelled to Lisa, “Do you have your phone? Mine is in my vehicle.”

  Lisa was crying, “Mine is in my purse at the house!”

  Jeanne said, “I can’t reach over and hold your hand, but I want you to pretend that is what I’m doing. We are going to be fine. I will protect you. These men will not harm you or Jamie on my watch.” Jeanne set her jaw and floored it. After about three minutes of over one hundred miles per hour Jeanne yelled, “Brace yourselves, we are going to slow down fast and take a corner up here.”

  Jamie was in the back seat and made her first comment, “You are breaking several traffic laws that even I know of.”

  Lisa said, “Jamie! She is saving us from bad men!”

  Jamie scrunched her mouth, “Just sayin’.”

  The SUV took the turn pushing the vehicle’s limits. For a brief moment Jeanne was afraid they would flip. She sped down the dirt road and yelled. “We’re turning again, hang on.”

  Lisa yelled, “There’s no road!” As soon as she said that she saw a barely visible dirt lane on the left. Jeanne turned into it, drove for about two minutes, and came to a dead stop at the edge of the swamp.

  Jeanne said, “Quick! Get out of the car and run to those tall weeds on the right. I’ll be there in one minute.” Jeanne watched as Lisa and Jamie began to run for the weeds. She gunned the SUV and drove it into the swamp. She crawled out of the
driver’s window and joined Lisa and Jamie in the weeds. She hugged each of them and said, “They will follow those tracks, we have to hurry, follow me.” Jeanne walked carefully on the soggy marsh ground. As they made their way through she explained that their tracks would be harder to follow because the water in the soil would soon wash over their prints.

  Jeanne heard their motor a distance behind them. She figured they would waste a few minutes looking at the sinking SUV. She whispered, “We are almost there, hurry.” They reached the edge of Jeremiah’s property, and Jeanne could see the boat was gone. Her heart sank, and then she remembered the tunnel. She motioned for Lisa and Jamie to follow her to the shed. When they were in the shed, Jeanne could see through the small window, the heads of three men, walking toward them still in the marsh grasses. They were much closer than she thought.

  Jeanne looked at Lisa and put her hand on Lisa’s arm. “There is a tunnel through that door that is safe. There are lanterns you can turn on when you get to the bottom of the stairs. Stay there until I come for you. Do you understand?” Lisa nodded and opened the door. Jeanne watched them descend the stairs and turn the lantern on. She closed the door and ran into the marsh grasses toward her prey.

  Everyone had returned to the Star Ship except Jeanne. After about thirty minutes Thor looked at his watch and looked at Simon, “What names did Jeanne take? Did she take Core’s kid?” Pablo turned from the computer screen to hear the answer.

  Simon said, “I don’t know. I turned around, and she was gone.”

  Pablo dialed Jeanne’s phone. No answer. Todd had entered the room, and Pablo asked him, “Was Core’s kid on your list?” Todd shook his head and grabbed an apple from the counter.

  Thor looked at Simon, “Give me Core’s address. I’m going over there.”

  Pablo stood, “I’m going with you.”

  They made their way past the National Guard barricades by showing their ID’s and Thor’s screaming. When they finally crossed Canal Street Thor said, “We have really screwed up this city.” Ordinarily Pablo would find Thor’s temperament abrasive and excessive. Right now he was grateful. Pablo was consulting his map and giving directions. They turned on Core’s street and were met with flashing blue lights and NOPD officers. An officer attempted to stop their SUV, and Thor yelled, “FBI, Can’t you read a badge? Get out of my way!” Pablo had jumped out of the vehicle and was running to the house. He held his badge up and yelled “FBI” to everyone he passed. He saw two dead men in the front yard, shot. He pushed his way through the front door to find another body. He yelled for PD to exit the building. He went toward the kitchen and saw two more men, shot.